The Japan Space Forum (JSF) had conducted the 2nd Training Program under the ASEAN-Japan Project (JAIF Project): Science Based Information Sharing Derived from Earth Observation Satellites for Agriculture Management in the ASEAN Region on 24 November 2021 as an online training. The project is an initiative implementation under the purview of the Sub-Committee on Space Technology and Applications (SCOSA) of ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) with the support from JAIF.
Prior to the online training on 24 November 2021, JSF also held the prior online self-study and report writing from 15 November to 19 November 2021 in collaboration with Sakura Science Exchange Program in practical operation.
There were total 8 trainees from 8 ASEAN member countries namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam along with 20 observers. Also, there were 9 participants from Sakura Science Project 2020 as the actual Japan-visit session of 2021 was canceled due to COVID-19 situation.
The main objectives of this training program are to 1) understand the background of the project and its connection to Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring Initiative (GEOGLAM) 2) learn the basic knowledge of satellite-based remote sensing for agromet; 3) learn the usage of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) web system for agromet information (JASMIN) and 4) understand how to interpret satellite based agromet information to rice growing outlook.
During the training, there was a notable lecture from Dr. Ryo Michishita, RESTEC, regarding the Remote Sensing of Agriculture. Also, the useful feedbacks and comments on Crop Growing Assessment Report Writing from Mr. Shoji Kimura, AFSIS Technical Advisor, were given to the trainees. Moreover, an active discussion forum were opened for the participants to share their questions or opinions.
The training was successfully conducted as the participants were effectively imparted with the knowledge of a report writing and the satellite-based remote sensing for agromet system which can be applied to their work respectively.
Photo from RESTEC
Photo from RESTEC
The agricultural sector plays a vital role in supporting food security and livelihoods across ASEAN, where diverse production capacities shape the availability of major agricultural commodities such as rice, maize, sugarcane, soybean, and cassava. This report examines the SSR patterns across ASEAN to emphasize regional strengths, structural imbalances, and the implications for food security and agricultural policy in the region.
The self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) is a key indicator of food security. It shows how well Southeast Asian countries can meet rice demand through domestic production, with the region overall remaining increasingly self-sufficient despite ongoing challenges.
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On 19 March 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat participated in the Asia and the Pacific Food Systems Forum 2026 under the theme “Feeding the Future, Sustaining the Planet” in Manila, the Philippines, organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) . The forum aimed to promote food security policies, review ADB’s related initiatives, and support long-term food systems transformation.
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On 5–6 March 2026, the AFSIS Secretariat participated in the 14th Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Council via video conference, hosted by the Kingdom of Cambodia. The meeting brought together representatives from ASEAN Plus Three countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the APTERR Secretariat, and the AFSIS Secretariat to discuss key issues related to regional food security and emergency rice reserves.
